Google today announced, via their VR channels, a new player on the virtual reality game, or at least augmented reality, ARCore! Now, before you get as confused as most Google followers will be, this isn’t the same as Google Tango, which the company was barely talking about at this years Google I/O, this is an AR approach which will be available on more or less all current and future Android devices.

Apple’s ARKit, demonstrated at this years WWDC 2017 in June.

It’s ironic that it is Apple who look like the ones who’ve upset Google in the AR game, but that’s pretty much the only logical take away from this. Unlike Tango, which was Android’s prior AR solution, ARKit naturally runs on any iOS device with a Camera, compass, motion co-processor and gyroscope, this includes all iPhone models introduced after and including the 6S, as well as iPads, much more devices than what could run Google’s Tango project, 3.

ARCore even sounds like ARKit, and both share very similar to same attributes, both require a device with a decent Camera, motion co-processor and gyroscope, for tracking and accuracy, and both are developer frameworks which any developer can integrate and use. Based on Apple being first to the game with the ARKit framework, we expect more apps will likely arrive on iOS 11 first taking advantage of AR in this way, though based on the AR frameworks of ARCore, we’d expect porting would be rather simple.

Google Tango was and remains only compatible with these devices, literally that’s it!

It’s a shame that it took Google this long to realise that Tango was never going to gain mainstream success, or maybe they did, regardless the implications will be pretty big in terms of Android in the AR field. Quite a number of developers have worked and invested in Google Tango, so it will be interesting to see what the future of their creations has. We’d hope the applications we saw with Google Tango, which by the way were incredible, would be able to run under ARCore technologies, otherwise Google’s about to face some pretty annoyed developer hate.

We imagine both Lenovo and, most recently, ASUS, likely feel a bit cheated about Tango’s demise as well as they released full on dedicated hardware for the platform, though the silver lining will be those devices too will be able to use ARCore, but still a pretty rough move from Google.

Which will be better? ARKit vs ARCore

The interesting thing about what we know about both ARKit and ARCore, from developers who’ve had chance to check out the SDK, is they are near on identical in possibilities at the moment, which naturally means the best choice is the one with the apps and services actively ready, and it’s a pretty safe bet Apple will likely get the big titles first.

We’ve seen a collection of ARKit videos demonstrating the possibilities, and we’re expecting very recognisable ARCore videos to come soon as well. We’re just glad at least Android isn’t being entirely left behind when it comes to major advancements in AR… well, unless it was Oreo exclusive then it might as well be initially, but ARCore will be compatible with Nougat as well!

Samsung Galaxy Note8: Official Introduction

SAMSUNG

Video provided by Samsung on YouTube.

Call us the bored ones, but when it comes to the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 announced today, we’re kind of on left-field in terms of whether to be impressed or incredibly disappointed! It was, barely just, March, when Samsung announced the Galaxy S8, with it’s all new “infinity display” and finicky Fingerprint scanner, and if we told you then that pretty much that phone with a Pen would be the Note 8, you’d probably share our disappointment, yet here we are!

When Samsung originally launched the Galaxy Note program, interestingly, it was met with rather negative reception. The idea that we would ever want such large screen Smartphones was at the time barbaric, yet look at us today, the idea that we would want a Smartphone with a Wacom pen seemed equally crazy, yet look at the Note success over the years (minus last year naturally) … that’s the thing we’re missing from the Galaxy Note 8, that defining feature that makes it stand out as a Note device, and not a Galaxy S8… pro or something.

In typical Samsung fashion, you’ve more or less the same colour array, with two Blue colours to choose from as well as the Silver and Black finishes. All are built just like all recent Samsung’s, with a glass front and back, though we’re at least happy to see a far more minimised Camera bump for the now Dual-Camera set up and, yes, that S8-esc Fingerprint Scanner is here as well! The same style AMOLED Panel you’ll also find at the front of the Note 8 as well, from the S8 series, though naturally much bigger at an insane 6.3 inch, as well as the same on-screen vibration Home button and the same annoying Bixby button (which still has to be a Bixby button).

One feature the Note 8 does hold over the Galaxy S8, other than brute size, is the increase to 6GB of RAM as standard! Whilst Samsung did have a Galaxy S8 in Korean markets which that RAM capacity, now worldwide this will be offered with the Galaxy S8, alongside the same Exynos 8895 (Snapdragon 835 in US) processor and 64GB of on-board storage, which naturally remains expandable! The S-pen also stays on the Note line, obviously, though Samsung haven’t shared any real improvements, just that it’s there and works just as the Note 7 one did.

One thing you won’t find on the Galaxy Note 8, almost expectedly unfortunately for us heavy uses, is a big battery, the battery is rather mediocre on the Note 8 at just 3300mAh, however if you wish to know why, you can re-live the pain of last years Note 7 right here which should answer all the reasons, though needless to say we’re betting Samsung’s done pretty much everything to prevent that again!

Samsung are putting all their efforts, in terms of differentiation, in to the Camera on the Note 8. Rather than having a single 12MP Camera as typical on recent Galaxy flagships, the Note 8 doubles that, though it looks like Samsung have taken Apple’s approach rather than LG’s when it comes to what they’ll do with that extra lens. Instead of using it to zoom out like LG, Samsung have gone for the 2X Optical approach similar to Apple’s iPhone 7 Plus, as well as “artificial blurring” which rings very true to a Portrait mode. This isn’t a bad thing that it’s the same approach, personally we think its the better of the two to go for, and we’ll be very interested to see the results, especially as unlike the 7 Plus both the Lenses have OIS (optical-image-stabilization) rather than just the main one.

To Summarise

Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Review

We’re currently in a fully stable moment in terms of Smartphones, so it’s always going to be hard to stand out, and that’s where the Note 8 has really fallen short for us. For the select few who really prefer the super massive Smartphone, and have been waiting for a new S-pen capable Galaxy Note, sure this is what you’ve been waiting for and what a fantastic upgrade it will be, though for everyone else, there’s no area, other than the Camera at a stretch, where you wouldn’t be better suited saving some money on a Galaxy S8 or especially an S8+!

The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 begins US pre-orders August 24th, yes tomorrow, or now if you’re UK bound, so if you’re wanting this thing as soon as, get your (pre-)orders ready. Samsung is promising first shipments out by September 15th! UK Carriers, such as EE are also offering it with a free Samsung DeX!

With the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 835, Quad-HD Display and ZEISS Optics powering the 3 Camera this thing has, the Nokia 8 is definitely an example of a Company pushing out all the stops and making a Flagship phone with all the strengths they’re known for, and that’s awesome.

The last time we had a flagship from Nokia was 2014, and it sure as heck wasn’t running Android out of the box. The Windows Phone powered Lumia 930 was an incredible Smartphone, however that bottleneck which came with running Windows Phone really didn’t take long to affect it from being an incredibly designed Smartphone with one of the best Cameras of the year, to being, sure all those things still but, a phone still running Windows Phone.

We were massive Windows Phone fans, and yes we know it’s still alive, yeah yeah keep telling yourself that, let’s be completely real, Windows Phone would have never reached any peak if it wasn’t for Nokia’s brand, though we will admit an Android Nokia back then would never have garnered success so the Company had to step out of the box, but that was then and this is now, a fully spec-packed Android flagship is here, and it’s by Nokia! …kind of.

Just like the Nokia 3, 5 and 6, which have been announced this year, the device is being made by a Company known as HMD Global, which whilst are a Finnish Company like Nokia themselves, they are new, though we’re confident based on devices so far that this will still keep up that Nokia DNA.

One thing we are a big fan of when it comes to the Nokia 8 is the design, this thing looks great, with its 6000 series aluminium finish, whether you go for the Glossy or Matte Dark Blue options, the new disgusting trend of Glossy Copper or the Matte Silver, you know you’ve got a fantastic Smartphone, HOWEVER, their is a big elephant in the room when it comes to the Nokia 8, but just like with the HTC U11 and the Xperia XZ Premium, we don’t care but you might!

Of course we’re talking about the Bezels! I know, how dare anything from 2017 dare have any Bezels … we don’t quite get the big uproar about it, but if you’re one of those really affected by that, one we’d say grow up, but naturally this phone isn’t for you, which will be a shame as you’ll have a workable 16:9 aspect ratio and a gorgeous 5.3 inch 2560 x 1440 Display with Gorilla Glass 5 and 600-nits of brightness to keep your content alight. However, the rumoured Nokia 9 is expected to address those wishes, so watch this space you Bezel-less hungry lot, where we’re with you is naturally a 5.3 inch screen is where it begins to get a bit big, thankfully there’s next to nothing left to right.

In a 100 percent no surprise way, Nokia have gone all out in the Camera department, and this is what will naturally get a lot excited, and will likely sell the majority of these as once again, partnering with ZEISS means you will be getting a premiere Camera experience. The Rear Cameras, there’s two of em, work in a similar way to the Moto Z2 Force, in that one is Black and White, and the other is normal, then together they work to create the more crisper image. What’s more amazing is that the same 13MP Camera with OIS, AutoFocus and 4K Capture is also on the Front of the device, which is very Rare but incredible!

With the same Quality potential for Video on both sides of the Phone, Nokia have decided to use this as their fad to sell the devices, promoting a new wait for it “BOTHIE” Camera experience. We honestly can’t think of many uses for this. though naturally with 4K potential from each side, it could be useful for vlogging, though we find it, like most, as just a small fad you’ll try on day one and never again. The videos you do record from the Nokia 8 can also be directly streamed to Facebook Live from the Camera app.

Guaranteeing Android Updates is a big promise to make, and a very good selling point!

Our favourite feature of the Nokia 8 however, is what we loved about the Google Pixel, it’s a pure Google phone in it’s Android experience. Nokia are promising updates as soon as possible, including feature updates and security, as well as Android O first thing! This is probably the biggest incentive their is to have this as an option, plus if you’re a fan of the Google Pixel Launcher, that’s, more or less, what’s on the Nokia 8 as well.

Specs

We don’t normally spout specs out, but we’ve had so much to talk about the rest of this phone, the nitty-gritty can all go here.

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